US20130141499A1 - Cartridges and recording apparatuses - Google Patents

Abstract

A cartridge includes a substrate and an engagement portion. The first surface faces a first direction and has a first surface on which an electrical terminal is disposed. The engagement portion includes a second surface disposed upstream from the substrate in the first direction and a third surface. The second surface faces a second direction, which forms an obtuse angle with the first direction. The third surface faces a third direction, which forms an acute angle with the first direction. The third surface does not overlap with the substrate in the first direction and the third surface is disposed downstream from the second surface in the first direction,

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-267081, tiled on Dec. 6, 2011, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-267082, filed on Dec. 6, 2011. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The invention relates generally to cartridges and recording apparatuses.
• 2. Description of Related Art
• A known cartridge includes electrical contacts and a known recording apparatus includes electrical interfaces in its cartridge receiving portion. The electrical interfaces of the known recording apparatus is configured to contact the electrical contacts of the known cartridge. The electrical contacts are arranged in a direction intersecting a cartridge inserting direction. When the known cartridge is installed in the cartridge receiving portion of the known recording apparatus, the electrical contacts contact the electrical interfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• However, a contact failure may occur between the electrical contacts and the electrical interfaces due to dimensional deviation in one or both of the known cartridge and the cartridge receiving portion of the known recording apparatus with respect to the cartridge inserting direction.
• The present invention may provide a cartridge configured to reduce or eliminate a contact failure between an electrical contact and an electrical interface.
• According to an embodiment of the invention, a cartridge comprising: a substrate comprising a first surface on which an electrical terminal is disposed, the first surface facing a first direction; and an engagement portion comprising: a second surface disposed upstream from the substrate in the first direction, wherein the second surface faces a second direction, which forms an obtuse angle with the first direction; and a third surface facing a third direction, which forms an acute angle with the first direction, wherein the third surface does not overlap with the substrate in the first direction, wherein the third surface is disposed downstream from the second surface in the first direction.
• According to another embodiment of the invention, a cartridge comprising: a substrate comprising a first surface on which an electrical terminal is disposed, the first surface facing a first direction; a second surface disposed upstream from the substrate in the first direction, wherein the second surface faces a second direction, which forms an obtuse angle with the first direction; and a third surface facing a third direction, which forms an acute angle with the first direction, wherein the third surface does not overlap with the substrate in the first direction, wherein the third surface is disposed downstream from the second surface in the first direction, and wherein a portion of the third surface does not overlap any portion of the cartridge in the first direction downstream from the third surface.
• According to still another embodiment of the invention, A recording apparatus comprising: a cartridge comprising: a substrate comprising a first surface on which an electrical terminal is disposed, the first surface facing a first direction; and an engagement portion comprising: a second surface facing a second direction, which forms an acute angle with a direction opposite of the first direction; and a third surface disposed downstream from the second surface in the first direction, the third surface facing a third direction, which forms an acute angle with the first direction, wherein a downstream end of the electrical terminal in the first direction is disposed downstream from a downstream end of the second surface in the first direction, a receiving portion configured to receive the cartridge; an electrical interface disposed at the receiving portion and configured to contact the electrical terminal when the receiving portion receives the cartridge; and a locking unit disposed at the receiving portion and configured to urge the cartridge in the first direction by engaging a contact portion of the locking unit with the second surface when the receiving portion receives the cartridge, wherein an upstream end of the electrical interface in the first direction is disposed downstream from the contact portion of the locking unit in the first direction, wherein a distance between the upstream end of the electrical interface and the contact portion of the locking unit in the first direction is greater than a distance between a downstream end of the electrical terminal and a downstream end of the second surface in the first direction.
• Accordingly, the cartridge may move along the cartridge inserting direction to allow the electrical contact to contact the electrical interface by contacting the movable member with the first portion of the cartridge. Thus, a contact failure between the electrical contact and the electrical interface may be reduced.
• Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• For a more complete understanding of the present invention, needs satisfied thereby, and the objects, features, and advantages thereof, reference now is made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic side view depicting an internal structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3A is a perspective side view depicting a cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3B is another perspective side view depicting the cartridge ofFIG. 3A according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3C is a plan view depicting the cartridge ofFIG. 3A according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3D is an enlarged view depicting an area IIID inFIG. 3C according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view depicting an internal structure of the cartridge ofFIG. 3D according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view depicting a portion defining a cartridge receiving portion of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view depicting a process of installing a cartridge to a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 68 is another schematic plan view depicting a process of installing a cartridge to a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6C is still another schematic plan view depicting a process of installing a cartridge to a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6D is yet another schematic plan view depicting a process of installing a cartridge to a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 7A is an enlarged view depicting an area VIIA inFIG. 6A according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 7B is an enlarged view depicting an area VIIB inFIG. 6B according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 7C is an enlarged view depicting an area VIIC inFIG. 6C according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 8 is a timing diagram depicting a state of each portion of a printer during a process of installing a cartridge in a cartridge receiving portion of the printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an electrical configuration of a cartridge and a main unit of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 10A is an enlarged view depicting an area XA inFIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 10 B is a plan view of a substrate of a cartridge viewed in a direction of arrow XB inFIG. 10A according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI ofFIG. 7C according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
• Embodiments of the invention now are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings; like reference numerals are used for corresponding parts in the various drawings.
• Referring toFIG. 1, a recording apparatus, e.g., aninkjet printer1, may comprise a main unit and acartridge40 configured to be mounted to the main unit. The main unit of theprinter1 may comprise ahousing1ahaving substantially a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Asheet discharge portion31 may be disposed at the top of thehousing1a. Thehousing1amay have threeopenings10d,10b, and10cformed in one of its vertically extending outer surfaces, e.g., a front surface of theprinter1. Theopenings10d,10b, and10cmay be vertically aligned in this order from top to bottom when theprinter1 is oriented vertically, as depicted inFIG. 1. Asheet feed unit1band acartridge40, as depicted inFIG. 2, may be removably inserted into thehousing1athrough theopenings10band10c,respectively. The main unit of theprinter1 may comprise adoor1dfitted into theopening10dand configured to pivot about a horizontal axis at a lower end of thedoor1d. Thedoor1dmay pivot to selectively cover and expose theopening10d.As depicted inFIG. 2, thedoor1dmay be disposed with an interior surface facing atransport unit21 interior to theprinter1 in a primary direction. Theprinter1 may further comprise acover1cdisposed in theopening10cand configured to pivot about a horizontal axis at a lower end of thecover1c. When thecover1cis closed while thecartridge40 is mounted in the inside of thehousing1a, thecover1cmay prevent the cartridge from falling from thehousing1aof theprinter1.
• Referring toFIG. 2, an interior of thehousing1amay be divided into spaces A, B, and C in the vertical direction in this order from top to bottom, as shown inFIG. 2. Twoheads2, thetransport unit21, and acontroller100 may be disposed in the space A. Theheads2 may be configured to discharge black ink and pretreatment liquid, respectively. The black ink and the pretreatment liquid may be collectively referred to as liquid, respectively. Thetransport unit21 may be configured to transport sheets P. Thecontroller100 may be configured to control operations of the components of theprinter1. Thesheet feed unit1bmay be disposed in the space B, and thecartridge40 may be disposed in the space C. Thus, the space C may be a. portion that receives thecartridge40, e.g., a cartridge receiving portion, in the main unit. The space C may comprise portions other than thecartridge40 mounted in theprinter1, of theprinter1. A sheet transport path, along which sheets P may be transported, may be formed in thehousing1a. The sheet transport path may extend from thesheet feed unit1btoward thesheet discharge portion31, as indicated by the bold arrows inFIG. 2.
• Thecontroller100 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), such as a nonvolatile RAM, and an interface. The ROM may be configured to store programs to be executed by the CPU and various fixed data. The RAM may be configured to temporarily store data, e.g., image data, for the CPU to execute programs. Thecontroller100 may be configured to transmit and receive data to and from amemory141, e.g., as depicted inFIG. 12, andHall devices71, e.g., Hall effect sensors, of thecartridge40, Further, thecontroller100 may be configured to transmit and receive data to and from an external device, e.g., a personal computer connected to theprinter1, via the interface.
• Thesheet feed unit1bmay comprise atray23 and aroller25. Thetray23 may be configured to be detachably attached to thehousing1aalong the primary direction. Thetray23 may have a substantially box shape and may open upward. Thetray23 may be configured to accommodate sheets P of various sizes. As depicted inFIG. 9, asheet feed motor125 that may be controlled by thecontroller100, may drive theroller25, which may be configured to feed the topmost sheet P from thetray23 when driven by theroller25. The sheet P fed by theroller25 may be sent to thetransport unit21 while being guided byguides27aand27band while being nipped by a pair offeed rollers26.
• Thetransport unit21 may comprise tworollers6 and7 and anendless transport belt8. Thetransport belt8 may be wound around therollers6 and7. Theroller7 may be a driving roller configured to rotate in the clockwise direction, as depicted inFIG. 2. Specifically, referring toFIG. 9, when a shaft of theroller7 is driven by atransport motor127 controlled by thecontroller100, theroller7 may receive a driving force from thetransport motor127. Referring toFIG. 2, theroller6 may be a driven roller configured to rotate in the clockwise direction, as depicted inFIG. 2, along with the running of thetransport belt8 caused by the rotation of theroller7. Aplaten19 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape may be disposed within the loop of thetransport belt8. Anouter surface8aof thetransport belt8 at an upper portion of the loop may facelower surfaces2aof theheads2, and may extend substantially in parallel with thelower surfaces2awith a gap formed between thelower surfaces2aand theouter surface8a. Theplaten19 may support an inner surface of thetransport belt8 at the upper portion of the loop of thetransport belt8. Thelower surface2aof eachhead2 may be a discharge surface where a plurality of discharge nozzles for discharging ink may be formed. A silicone layer having a low adhesive property may be formed on theouter surface8aof thetransport belt8. Apressing roller4 may press the sheet P, which is fed out from thesheet feed unit1btoward thetransport unit21, against theouter surface8aof thetransport belt8. While theouter surface8aof thetransport belt8 holds the sheet P by the adhesive property of theouter surface8a,thetransport belt8 may transport the sheet P a secondary direction as indicated by the bold arrows inFIG. 2.
• The primary direction may be a direction that a longer side of thelower surface2aof thehead2 may extend, and may be perpendicular to a direction that a surface of the drawing sheet ofFIG. 2 may extend. The secondary direction may be perpendicular to the primary direction. Each of the primary direction and the secondary direction may be a horizontal direction.
• As shown inFIG. 2, when the sheet P held on theouter surface8aof thetransport belt8 passes below theheads2, the controller110 may control theheads2 to discharge one or both of the black ink and the pretreatment liquid toward an upper surface of the sheet P from thelower surfaces2ato form an image on the sheet P.A separating plate5 may be configured to separate the sheet P from theouter surface8aof thetransport belt8 when the sheet P is fed to the separatingplate5. The sheet P may be transported upward while being guided byguides29a,29band while being nipped by two pairs oftransport rollers28, and may be discharged onto thesheet discharge portion31 through anopening30 formed at the top of thehousing1a. Referring toFIG. 9, one roller of eachtransport roller pair28 may be driven by afeed motor128 controlled by thecontroller100.
• The pretreatment liquid may have one or more of a property of improving a density of ink discharged onto the sheet P, a property of preventing the occurrence of ink blurring or strike-through, e.g., the penetration of ink through the sheet P that is being recorded, a property of improving color reproduction, a quick dry property of ink, and a property of preventing the occurrence of wrinkles or curls on the sheet P after ink is discharged on the sheet P. For example, liquid containing a polyvalent salt, e.g., cationic high polymer or a magnesium salt, may be used as the pretreatment liquid. Thehead2 for discharging the pretreatment liquid may be disposed upstream from thehead2 for discharging the black ink in the transport direction.
• As depicted inFIG. 2, eachhead2 may be a line type head elongated in the primary direction and may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Theheads2 may be aligned in the secondary direction with a predetermined pitch and may be supported by thehousing1avia aframe3. A joint may be disposed at an upper surface of eachhead2 for receiving a flexible tube. A plurality of discharge nozzles may be formed in thelower surface2aof eachhead2. A flow path may be formed inside eachhead2, such that liquid, which is supplied from a correspondingreservoir42 of thecartridge40 via a corresponding tube and a corresponding joint, may flow to corresponding discharge nozzles.
• Referring toFIG. 4, thecartridge40 may comprise thereservoirs42 for storing black ink and pretreatment liquid, respectively. The liquid stored in eachreservoir42 of thecartridge40 may be supplied to thecorresponding head2 via the corresponding flexible tube and the corresponding joint. Thecartridge40 may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from thehousing1aof theprinter1 along the primary direction. Therefore, anempty cartridge40 may be removed from thehousing1aof theprinter1 and be replaced with anew cartridge40, which may be attached to thehousing1aof theprinter1.
• Referring toFIGS. 3A-4, thecartridge40 may comprise ahousing41, ablack ink unit40B, apretreatment liquid unit40P, and asubstrate142. Each of theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P may comprise thereservoir42 and anink outlet tube43. Theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P may have substantially the same structure with different reservoir size, as depicted inFIG. 4.
• As depicted inFIGS. 3A and 3B, thehousing41 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As depicted inFIG. 4, the interior of thehousing41 may be divided into two chambers R1 and R2. Thereservoirs42 of theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P may be disposed in the chamber R1. Theink outlet tubes43 of theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P may be disposed in the chamber R2.
• Eachreservoir42 may comprise a bag for storing liquid therein and may have an opening to which one end of theink outlet tube43 is connected. Thereservoir42 of theblack ink unit40B may be configured to store black ink. Thereservoir42 of thepretreatment liquid unit40P may be configured to store pretreatment liquid.
• As depicted inFIGS. 3B and 4, theink outlet tube43 may define an ink outlet path for discharging the liquid stored in thereservoir42 to thehead2. The other end of theink outlet tube43 may protrude from thehousing41 of thecartridge40. Theink outlet tube43 may have an opening at a side opposite to thereservoir42. Aplug50 may comprise an elastomeric material, e.g., rubber, and may be disposed in a compressed state at the other end of theink outlet tube43, such that theplug50 may close the opening of the ink outlet path. Acap46 may be disposed at the other end of theink outlet tube43 and outside theplug50. Thecap46 may have an opening formed therethrough substantially at its center portion. A surface of theplug50 may be partially exposed through the opening of thecap46.
• Thehousing41 may comprisesurfaces41a-41h.Thefront surface41aand therear surface41bmay extend substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to a direction in which thecartridge40 may be inserted into the space C, e.g., a cartridge inserting direction. Thefront surface41aand the rear surface41B may be separated from each other with respect to the cartridge inserting direction. Therear surface41bmay be disposed upstream of thefront surface41awith respect to the cartridge inserting direction. The side surfaces41cand41dmay extend substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to a direction in which thehollow tube153 may be inserted into theink outlet tube43, e.g., a tube inserting direction. That is the side surfaces41cand41dmay extend substantially perpendicular to the front andrear surfaces41aand41b,respectively. The side surfaces41cand41dmay be separated from each other with respect to the tube inserting direction and disposed between thefront surface41aand therear surface41bwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction. Theink outlet tubes43 may be disposed at theside surface41cof thehousing41, as depicted inFIG. 3B. Theside surface41dmay comprise aprotrusion41dpat a position near an upstream end of theside surface41dwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction, as depicted inFIGS. 3A,3C, and4. As depicted inFIG. 2, theupper surface41h,e.g., fourth surface, and thelower surface41e,e.g., fifth surface, may extend substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to a third cartridge direction, e.g., a fifth direction. Thus, the upper andlower surfaces41hand41emay extend substantially perpendicular to thesurfaces41a-41d,respectively, and be separated from each other with respect to the third cartridge direction. The upper andlower surfaces41hand41emay be disposed between thefront surface41aand therear surface41bwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction and between theside surface41cand theside surface41dwith respect to the tube inserting direction. Theupper surface41hmay be contiguous to an upper end of theside surface41cand extend along the tube inserting direction. Thelower surface41emay be contiguous to a lower end of theside surface41cand extend along the tube inserting direction. Thefront surface41amay contiguous to a downstream end of theside surface41cwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction and extend along the tube inserting direction. Thesurfaces41fand41gmay extend substantially parallel to the upper andlower surfaces41hand41e.Thesurfaces41fand41gmay be disposed between theupper surface41hand thelower surface41ewith respect to the third cartridge direction and between theupper surface41hand thefront surface41awith respect to the cartridge inserting direction. Thesurfaces41fand41gmay be separated from thelower surface41eand opposite to thelower surface41ewith respect to the third cartridge direction. Thesurface41fmay be disposed farther than thesurface41gfrom thelower surface41gwith respect to the third cartridge direction. Thesurfaces41fand41gmay not overlap with each other in the third cartridge direction. When thecartridge40 is mounted in theprinter1, a first cartridge direction, e.g., first direction, may be aligned with the primary direction, a second cartridge direction may be aligned with the secondary direction, and the third cartridge direction may be aligned with the vertical direction.
• The cartridge inserting direction may be parallel to the primary direction, and the tube inserting direction may be parallel with the secondary direction. The cartridge inserting direction may be perpendicular to the tube inserting direction.
• Thehousing41 may further comprise anengagement portion48 and ahand well portion49. Theengagement portion48 may be configured to be engaged with aroller148cof alocking unit148, as depicted inFIG. 5. As depicted inFIG. 3D, theengagement portion48 may comprise a surface that may connect thesurfaces41fand41gof thehousing41 to each other and extend perpendicular to thesurfaces41fand41g.The surface constituting theengagement portion48 may comprise aportion48aand surfaces48b-48e.In a plane extending perpendicular to the third cartridge direction, thesurface48b,e.g., third surface, may extend along a direction including a component in a direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction, e.g., a backward component inFIG. 3D, and a component in a direction opposite to the tube inserting direction, e.g., a fourth direction or a leftward component inFIG. 3D, and eachsurface48dand48emay extend along a direction including a component in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction e.g., a backward component inFIG. 3D, and a component in the tube inserting direction, e.g., a rightward component inFIG. 3D. Thesurface48cmay comprise thesurfaces48dand48e.Thesurface48dmay be contiguous to theportion48a,and thesurface48e,e.g., second surface, may be contiguous to thesurface48d.Thesurface48cmay be disposed closer to thefront surface41athan therear surface41bwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction. Further, thesurface48cmay be disposed substantially in the middle of theside surface41cand theside surface41dand substantially in the middle of theupper surface41hand thelower surface41e.Thesurface48emay face a direction, e.g., second direction, which forms an obtuse angle with the cartridge insertion direction. Thesurface48bmay face a direction, e.g., third direction, which forms an acute angle with the cartridge insertion direction. Theportion48amay be a border between thesurface48band thesurface48dand may also be a downstream end of the thesurface48cwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction. Thesurfaces48b,48d,and48emay form angles of θb, θd, and θe, respectively, with respect to the cartridge inserting direction. The relationship among the angles θb, θd, and θe may satisfy θd<θb<θe<90°. Thesurface48bdoes not overlap with thesubstrate142 in the cartridge insertion direction.
• Thehand well portion49, e.g., a holding portion, may be a recessed portion configured to allow the user to insert his/her hand therein. Thehand well portion49 may be defined in a corner that may be formed by theupper surface41hand therear surface41band elongated along an upstream side of theupper surface41hwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction.
• Thefront surface41amay have a recessedportion41a1 at an upstream part of thefront surface41awith respect to the tube inserting direction. The recessedportion41a1 may be opposite to the chamber R2 with respect to the first cartridge direction, as depicted inFIG. 4. Thesubstrate142 may be disposed in an interior of the recessedportion41a1. Thesubstrate142 may have a substantially rectangular plate shape and comprise thememory141 on one surface thereof and a plurality of terminals, e.g., eight electrical terminals,terminals170c-177c, on the other surface thereof, e.g., first surface, as depicted inFIGS. 10A and 10B. Theterminals170c-177cmay be exposed to the outside of thecartridge40 via the recessedportion41a1. Each terminal170c-177cmay comprise a contact surface that contact a corresponding one of theterminals170p-177p.The contact surface of each terminal170c-177cmay extend along the second cartridge direction and the third cartridge direction. Thesurface48cmay be disposed such that thesurface48cmay be disposed higher than theterminals170c-177cwhen thecartridge40 is installed in the space C.
• As shown inFIG. 9, the sensor signal output terminal (SB)170cmay be electrically connected with theHall device71 of theblack ink unit40B. The sensor signal output terminal (SP)171cmay be electrically connected with theHall device71 of thepretreatment liquid unit40P. The data output terminal (DO)172cand the data input terminal (DI)173cmay be electrically connected to thememory141. The electric power input terminal (V)174cmay be electrically connected with thememory141, theHalt device71 of thepretreatment liquid unit40P, and theHall device71 of theblack ink unit40B. The ground terminals (G)175c,176c, and177cmay be electrically connected with thememory141, theHall device71 of thepretreatment liquid unit40P, and theHall device71 of theblack ink unit40B, respectively. Electrical connections between theterminals170c,171c,174c,175c,176c,and177cand therespective Hall devices71 may be established by wiring using flexible cables. Electrical connections between theterminals172c,173c,174c,175c,176c,and177cand thememory141 may be established via conductive members that may be filled in through holes formed in thesubstrate142.
• As depicted inFIG. 4, theHall device71 may be disposed on an upper wall of theink outlet tube43, and a magnet may be disposed on a lower wall of theink outlet tube43. The magnet may produce a magnetic field, andHall device71 may detect a magnetic field of the magnet, convert the detected magnetic field to an electric signal, and generate the electric signal. A valve may be disposed inside theink outlet tube43, e.g., outlet portion. The valve may be configured to move between an open position, at which the valve may open the ink outlet path disposed inside theink outlet tube43, and a closed position, at which the valve may close the ink outlet path. TheHall device71 may generate a signal having a magnitude corresponding to a position of the valve inside theink outlet tube43. The valve and theplug50 may be aligned along a direction in which liquid may flow in theink outlet tube43.
• Thememory141 may comprise an electrically erasable programmable ROM (“EEPROM”) or the like, and may store data relating to thecartridge40. More specifically, thememory141 may prestore an amount of liquid remaining in eachreservoir42 and sensor output values, e.g., output values received from eachHall device71. Thecontroller100 may be configured to read the data from thememory141 while thecartridge40 is mounted in the space C of theprinter1 In addition, while thecartridge40 is mounted in theprinter1, thecontroller100 may be configured to write various data in thememory141, e.g., the amount of liquid remaining in eachreservoir42.
• Referring toFIG. 5, the space C, e.g., the cartridge receiving portion, may be defined bywalls1aa,1ac,1ad,1ae, and1ahof thehousing1a. Thefront wall1aamay extend substantially perpendicular to the cartridge inserting direction. Thefront wall1aamay be disposed to thee thefront surface41aof thecartridge40 when thecartridge40 is installed in the spaceC. A substrate182 may be disposed on thefront wall1aaand supported by aspring182s. A plurality of protrusions, e.g., twoprotrusions1aap, may protrude from thefront wall1aaat respective positions separated from each other with respect to the tube inserting direction. Theside walls1acand1admay extend substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the cartridge inserting direction. Theside walls1acand1admay be separated from each other with respect to the tube inserting direction. Theside walls1acand1admay be disposed to face the side surfaces41cand41d,respectively, when thecartridge40 is installed in the space C, e.g., receiving portion. The plurality ofhollow tubes153, e.g., needles, and a plurality of support member, e.g., twosupport members154, may be disposed on theside wall1ac. Thehollow tubes153 may be provided for theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P, respectively. Thesupport members154 may be configured to hold thehollow tubes153, respectively. Thesupport members154 may be configured to move in the the tube inserting direction and in a direction opposite to the tube inserting direction with respect to thehousing1aof theprinter1 by a movingmechanism155, as depicted inFIG. 9. Thehollow tubes153 may be configured to be disposed selectively in a removed position, as depicted inFIG. 6C, and an inserted position, as depicted inFIG. 6D, in accordance with the movement of thesupport members154. When thehollow tubes153 are disposed in the removed position, thehollow tubes153 may be removed from the respectiveink outlet tubes43 of thereservoirs42. When thehollow tubes153 are disposed in the inserted position, thehollow tubes153 may be inserted into the respectiveink outlet tubes43 of thereservoirs42. Thehollow tubes153 corresponding to theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P, respectively, may be in fluid communication with thehead2 for discharging the black ink and thehead2 for discharging the pretreatment liquid, respectively, via respective flexible tubes and respective joints. Theside wall1admay have a projectingpart1adpat a downstream end thereof with respect to the cartridge inserting direction. As depicted inFIG. 2, theupper wall1ahand thelower wall1aemay extend substantially parallel to thewalls1aa,1ac, and1ad, respectively, and each of theupper wall1ahand thelower wall1aemay extend between theside wall1acand theside wall1ad. Theupper wall1ahand thelower wall1aemay be separated from each other with respect to the third cartridge direction.
• Thesubstrate182 may have substantially the same size as thesubstrate142. Thesubstrate182 may be disposed to face thesubstrate142 of thecartridge40 when thecartridge40 is installed in the space C, as depicted inFIGS. 6A-6D. A plurality of terminals, e.g., eightterminals170p-177p,may be provided on one surface of thesubstrate182 such that theterminals170p-177pmay contact the correspondingterminals170c-170cwhen thecartridge40 is installed in the space C. As depicted inFIG. 9, the sensor signal receiving terminal (SB)170p,the sensor signal receiving terminal (SP)171p,the data receiving terminal (DO)172p,and the data transmitting terminal (D1)173pmay be electrically connected with thecontroller100. The electric power output terminal (V)174pmay be electrically connected with apower supply158 provided in thehousing1a. Theground terminals175p,176p,and177pmay be grounded.
• One end of thespring182smay be fixed to the other surface of thesubstrate182 and the other end of thespring182smay be fixed to thefront wall1aa. Thus, thesubstrate182 may be held by the one end of thespring182s.Therefore, thesubstrate182 may be configured to move within a plane extending parallel to the secondary direction and the vertical direction.
• As depicted inFIG. 5, thelocking unit148 may be disposed in the space C. Thelocking unit148 may comprise alever148a,ashaft148b,aroller148c,e.g., contact portion, and aspring148d.As depicted inFIG. 11, theshaft148bmay be fixed to theupper wall1ahand extend downward from theupper wall1ahalong the vertical direction. Thelever148amay be held by a lower end of theshaft148b.Thelever148amay be configured to rotate about theshaft148bwithin a plane extending perpendicular to the vertical direction. One end of thespring148dmay be fixed to one side of thelever148aand the other end of thespring148dmay be fixed to thehousing1aof theprinter1. Theroller148cmay be rotatably held by a lower surface of a free end, which may be an end opposite to the fixed end of thelever148a,which is fixed to theshaft148. Theroller148cmay be configured to move within a plane extending perpendicular to the vertical direction. Theroller148cmay be disposed substantially in the middle portion of theside wall1acand theside wall1ad, as depicted inFIG. 5, and substantially in the middle portion of theupper wall1ahand thelower wall1ae, as depicted inFIG. 11.
• With respect to the cartridge inserting direction, a distance D1 between a contact portion of theroller148c,which may contact thesurface48cof theengagement portion48, and the surfaces of theterminals170p-177pmay be greater than a distance D2 between theportion48aof theengagement portion48 and the surfaces of theterminals170c-177c.Further, with respect to the cartridge inserting direction, the distance D1 may be less than a distance D3 between theportion48aof theengagement portion48 and a downstream end of a guide portion with respect to the cartridge inserting direction.
• Referring toFIGS. 6A-9, thecartridge40 may be installed into the space C of theprinter1 to establishment fluid communication between thecartridge40 and theheads2. InFIG. 9, electric power supply lines may be indicated by thick lines and signal lines may be indicated by thin lines.
• During installation of thecartridge40 into the space C of thehousing1aof theprinter1, the user of theprinter1 first may open thecover1c, as depicted inFIG. 1, of theprinter1, e.g., at timing t0 inFIG. 8. Then, the user may hold thehand well portion49 of thecartridge40 with one hand and insert, thecartridge40 into the space C of theprinter1, as depicted inFIG. 6A.FIGS. 6A-6D may depict conditions of theprinter1 and thecartridge40 during timings VIA, VIB, VIC, and VID, respectively, as depicted inFIG. 8.
• When thecartridge40 is inserted into the space C, first, theroller148cmay contact thesurface48bof theengagement portion48 of thecartridge40, e.g., at timing t1 inFIG. 8. Then, theroller148cmay slide over thesurface48btoward theportion48a,as depicted by a dashed line inFIG. 5. While theroller148cslides over thesurface48b,first, theside surface41dof thecartridge40 may contact the projectingpart1adpof theside wall1ad, e.g., at timing t2 inFIG. 8. After the timing t2, thecartridge40 may move along the cartridge inserting direction while theside surface41dof thecartridge40 may slide over the projectingpart1adp, e.g., thehousing41 of thecartridge40 may be guided by the projectingpart1adp. After the timing t2, a wall defining the recessedportion41a1, e.g., the guide portion, may contact one or both of side surfaces of thesubstrate182 of theprinter1 to allow thesubstrate182 to move in a direction in which thesubstrate182 may approach thesubstrate142 disposed in a plane extending parallel to the secondary direction and the vertical direction. Thus,substrate182 holding theterminals170p-177pmay be guided by the guide portion and may enter the recessedportion41a1, e.g., at timing t3 inFIG. 8. As depicted by the dashed line inFIG. 5, theroller148cthen may contact theportion48aof theengagement portion48, e.g., at timing t4 inFIG. 8, and then may pass theportion48aand contact thesurface48d.Theroller148cmay further slide over thesurface48dtoward thesurface48e.While theroller148cmoves in the above-described path, theterminals170p-177pmay face and contact the correspondingterminals170c-177cwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction, e.g., at timing t5 inFIG. 8.
• Thus, electrical connections between theterminals170c-177cand thecorresponding terminals170p-177pmay be established and the electric power may be supplied from thepower supply158 to theHall devices71 and thememory141 via theterminals174pand174c. Further, thecontroller100 may receive signals from theHall device71 of theblack ink unit40B via theterminals170cand170p,receiving signals from theHall device71 of thepretreatment liquid unit40P via theterminals171cand171p,reading data from thememory141 via theterminals172cand172p,and writing data into the memory1.41 via theterminals173cand173p.
• After the timing t5, theroller148cmay slide over thesurface48dand then contact a border between thesurface48dand thesurface48e,e.g., at timing t6 inFIG. 8, as depicted by the dashed line inFIG. 5. Theroller148cthen may pass the border and contact thesurface48e.Theroller148cmay further slide over thesurface48etoward an upstream end of thesurface48ewith respect to the cartridge inserting direction. While theroller148cslides over thesurface48c,thefront surface41aof thecartridge40 may contact theprotrusions1aapof thefront wall1aa, e.g., at timing t7 inFIG. 8. At the timing t7, the installation of thecartridge40 may be completed. At that time, theroller148cmay stop moving on thesurface48e,and thehousing41 of thecartridge40 may be retained securely with respect to the space C, unless a force equal to or greater than a predetermined magnitude is applied in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction.
• As depicted inFIGS. 7A-7C, during a period from the timing t1 to the timing t7, thelever148amay rotate about theshaft148bwithin the plane extending perpendicular to the vertical direction while being urged in a rotating direction by an elastic force of thespring148d. Theroller148cmay apply its urging force F to theengagement portion48, and thus to thehousing41 of thecartridge40, while theroller148cis engaged with theengagement portion48.
• The urging force F may be a component of the urging force Ed that thespring148dmay apply to theroller148c.The urging force Fd may act in a tangential direction of a path taken by theroller148cwhen thelever148arotates about theshaft148b,e.g., a circle with theshaft148bas its center. The urging force F may be a normal component of the urging force Fd and act at right angles to a portion, with which theroller148cmay be in contact, of theengagement portion48. The urging force F may be divided into a component Fx in a direction parallel to the cartridge inserting direction and a component Fy in a direction parallel to the tube inserting direction, as depicted inFIG. 7C.
• When theroller148ccontacts thesurface48b,the urging force F may include a component in a direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction and a component in the tube inserting direction, as depicted inFIG. 7A. When theroller148ccontacts one of thesurface48dand thesurface48e,the urging force F may include a component in the cartridge inserting direction and a component in the tube inserting direction, as depicted inFIG. 7C. When theroller148ccontacts theportion48a,the urging force F may he changed from the urging force F including the component in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction to the the urging force F including the component in the cartridge inserting direction, as depicted inFIG. 7B. Therefore, the urging force F that may move thehousing41 in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction and in the tube inserting direction may act on thehousing41 during the period from the timing t1 to the timing t4. After the timing t4, the urging force F that moves thehousing41 in the cartridge inserting direction and in the tube inserting direction may act on thehousing41. As described above, the urging force F may act on thehousing41 in the tube inserting direction from the timing t1. Thus, theside surface41dof thehousing41 may contact the projectingpart1adpof theside wall1adreliably. The urging force F may act on thehousing41 in the cartridge inserting direction from the timing t4. Thus, thefront surface41aof thehousing41 may contact theprotrusions1aapof thefront wall1aareliably.
• The magnitude of the urging force Ed may be proportioned to the degree of expansion of thespring148dfrom its natural state. During the period from the timing t1 to the timing t4, thespring148dmay extend gradually and the urging force Fd may also increase gradually. Thus, during the period from the timing t1 to the timing t4, the elastic force of thespring148dmay increase. As theroller148cpasses theportion48aand contacts the one or both of thesurfaces48dand48eafter the timing t4, thespring148dmay contract and the urging force Fd having greater power may act on the one or both of thesurfaces48dand48e,and thus, on thehousing41.
• During the period from the timing t5 to the timing t7, thespring182smay contract and an urging force Fs of thespring182smay act on thehousing41 in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction via theterminals170p-177pand170c-177c,as depicted inFIG. 7C. The urging force Fs may increase in accordance with the degree of contraction of thespring182s.However, the component in the cartridge inserting direction in the urging force F may be greater than the urging force Fs starting from the timing t5.
• After timing t7, aninstallation detection switch159, as depicted inFIG. 9, may output an ON signal as thecover1cis closed, e.g., attiming8 inFIG. 8. Upon receipt of the ON signal, thecontroller100 may determine that thecartridge40 has been installed in the space C. Theinstallation detection switch159 may comprise a protrusion at a wall having the opening10cin thehousing1a, as depicted inFIG. 1. The protrusion may protrude from the wall when thecover1cis opened and may retract into the wall by thecover1cwhen thecover1cis closed. Theinstallation detection switch159 may be configured to output OFF signals when the protrusion protrudes from the wall and ON signals when the protrusion retracts in the wall.
• When thecontroller100 determines that thecartridge40 has been installed in the space C, thecontroller100 may read, from thememory141 of thecartridge40 the data of the amount of liquid remaining in eachreservoir42 and the sensor output values. Thecontroller100 then may control the movingmechanism155, as depicted inFIG. 9, to move thesupport members154 holding the respectivehollow tubes153 along the tube inserting direction, as depicted inFIG. 6D.
• In accordance with the movement of thehollow tubes153, thehollow tubes153 may penetrate therespective plugs50 disposed on the respective one ends of theink outlet tubes43 of theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P along the primary direction, as depicted inFIG. 6D. Thus, theplugs50 may be changed from a closing state to an open state. When theplug50 is in the closing state, theplug50 may not allow fluid communication between theink outlet tube43 and the exterior of thereservoir42. When theplug50 is in the open state, theplug50 may allow fluid communication between theink outlet tube43 and the exterior of thereservoir42. In each of theblack ink unit40B and the pretreatment liquid unit20P, thehollow tube153 may move while pushing a valve body of the valve disposed inside theink outlet tube43. Therefore, the valve may move from the closed position to the open position. Thus, fluid communication may be established between thereservoir42 and thecorresponding head2 via theink outlet tube43, e.g., at timing t10 inFIG. 8.
• During the period from the timing t8 to the timing t10, a force may act on thehousing41 in the tube inserting direction when thehollow tubes153 are inserted into the respectiveink outlet tubes43 of thereservoirs42. Therefore, thehousing41 may rotate counterclockwise inFIG. 6C about a portion of theside surface41dthat contacts the projectingpart1adp. Thus, thefront surface41aof thecartridge40 may be separated from theprotrusions1aapand theprotrusion41dpof theside surface41dof thecartridge40 may contact theside wall1addefining the space C, e.g., at timing t9 inFIG. 8. In another embodiments, the timing t9 may occur at the same timing as the timing t10.
• Thecontroller100 may determine whether the valves of theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P are in the open positions in the respectiveink outlet tubes43 based on output values read from thememory141 and the signals received from theHall devices71. When thecontroller100 determines that the valves of theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P are in the open positions, thecontroller100 may determine whether a recording command has been received from the external device. When thecontroller100 determines that the recording command has been received, thecontroller100 may determine whether an amount of black ink and an amount of pretreatment liquid to be used in recording according to the recording command are less than the amount of black ink remaining and the amount of pretreatment liquid remaining, respectively. The amount of liquid to be used may be an amount of liquid to be discharged during recording according to the recording command and obtained based on image data included in the recording command. The data read from thememory141 may be used for the amount of liquid remaining. When the amount of liquid to be used is greater than or equal to the amount of liquid remaining, thecontroller100 may issue an error notification via anoutput device160, e.g., a display or a speaker of theprinter1, as depicted inFIG. 9, and may stop operations of each components of theprinter1. When the amount of liquid to be use is less than the amount of liquid remaining, thecontroller100 may control thesheet feed motor125, thetransport motor127, afeed motor128, and theheads2 to perform recording on a sheet P.
• During removal of thecartridge40 from the space C, the user of theprinter1 first may open thecover1c, as depicted inFIG. 1. When thecover1cis opened, theinstallation detection switch159 may output an OFF signal. Upon receipt of the OFF signal, thecontroller100 may control the movingmechanism155, as depicted inFIG. 9, to move thesupport members154 in a direction opposite to the tube inserting direction. Thus, thesupport members154 holding the respectivehollow tubes153 may move together with the valve bodies of the valves in the direction opposite to the tube inserting direction. In accordance with the movement of thehollow tube153 leftward inFIG. 6D in each of theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P, the valve also may move leftward inFIG. 6D from the open position to the closed position. Thus, the the hollow tube may be removed from theplug50 and separated from theink outlet tube43. The force may act on thehousing41 in the direction opposite to the tube inserting direction. Therefore, thehousing41 may rotate clockwise direction inFIG. 6D about the portion of theside surface41dthat contacts the projectingpart1adpof theside wall1addefining the space C. Thus, theprotrusion41dpof theside surface41dof thecartridge40 may be separated from theside wall1addefining the space C and thefront surface41aof thecartridge40 may contact theprotrusions1aapof thefront wall1aa. Thecontroller100 may determine whether the valves of theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P are in the closed positions in the respectiveink outlet tubes43 based on output values read from thememory141 and the signals received from theHall devices71. When thecontroller100 determines that the valves of theblack ink unit40B and thepretreatment liquid unit40P are in the closed positions, the user may hold thehand well portion49, with one hand and move thecartridge40 in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction to remove thecartridge40 from the space C.
• When thecartridge40 is removed from the space C, the series of above-described operations may be performed in inverse order. Thus, when thecartridge40 in the state depicted inFIG. 6C is moved in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction, theroller148cmay slide over thesurface48etoward thesurface48dwhile receiving the urging force of thespring148dvia thelever148a.While theroller148cslides over thesurface48e,thefront surface41aof the cartridge may be separated from theprotrusions1aapof thefront wall1aa. Then, theroller148cmay contact thesurface48dand further slide over thesurface48dtoward theportion48a.While theroller148cslides over thesurface48d,theterminals170p-177pmay be separated from the correspondingterminals170c-177c.Theroller148cthen may contact theportion48a,pass theportion48a,and then contact thesurface48b.Theroller148cmay further slide over thesurface48btoward the downstream end of thesurface48bwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction. While theroller148cslides over thesurface48b,thesubstrate182 may be positioned outside the recessedportion41a1 of thecartridge40. Further, theside surface41dof the cartridge may be separated from the projectingpart1adpof theside wall1ad. Theroller148cthen may reach the downstream end of thesurface48bwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction and be disengaged from theengagement portion48 of thecartridge40. Thecartridge40 then may be removed from the space C.
• In thecartridge40, thesurface48cmay be configured to contact theroller148cto allow thecartridge50 to move along the cartridge inserting direction such that theterminals170c-177cand theterminals170p-177pmay be made contact with each other. Theprinter1 may comprise theroller148cin the space C, and theroller148cmay be configured to move while contacting thesurface48cto allow thecartridge40 to move along the cartridge inserting direction such that theterminals170c-177cand theterminals170p-177pmay contact each other. In theprinter1, theroller148cmay contact thesurface48bfirst and then thesurface48cwhen thecartridge40 is installed in the space C. Further, the contact portion of theroller148c, which contact thesurface48c,and the surfaces of theterminals170p-177p,e.g., the contact portions that may contact the correspondingterminals170c-177cin therespective terminals170p-177p,may also be disposed in this order with respect to the cartridge inserting direction. Theportion48aof thecartridge40 and the surfaces of theterminals170c-177cmay be disposed in this order with respect to the cartridge inserting direction. With respect to the cartridge inserting direction, the distance D1 between the contact portion of theroller148cand the surfaces of theterminals170p-177pmay be greater than the distance D2 between theportion48aand the surfaces of theterminals170c-177c,as depicted inFIG. 5. With this configuration, by contacting theroller148cto the thesurface48c,thecartridge40 may be allowed to move along the cartridge inserting direction such that theterminals170c-177cand theterminals170p-177pmay contact each other. Thus, the above-described configuration may reduce a contact failure between theterminals170c-177cand thecorresponding terminals170p-177p.
• In theprinter1, theroller148cmay be urged by thespring148d.Thecartridge40 may comprise thesurface48bthat may be configured to contact theroller148cand increase the elastic force of thespring148dbefore thesurface48ccontacts theroller148c.Theprinter1 may comprise thespring148dconfigured to urge theroller148c.Theroller148cmay be configured to move while contacting thesurface48bof thecartridge40 and increasing the elastic force of thespring148dbefore theroller148ccontacts thesurface48c.With this configuration, when thecartridge40 is moved by the elastic force of thespring148d,the elastic force of thespring148dmay be smoothly applied to thesurface48cand thecartridge40 may be allowed to move along the cartridge inserting direction with further reliability. Thus, the configuration may further reduce a contact failure between theterminals170c-177cand thecorresponding terminals170p-177p.
• in thecartridge40, thesurface48cmay comprise thesurface48d,which may be contiguous to thesurface48b,and thesurface48e,which may be contiguous to the upstream end of thesurface48dwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction. The angle θd formed by thesurface48dwith respect to a straight line extending parallel to the cartridge inserting direction and passing theportion48amay be less than the angle θe formed by thesurface48ewith respect to the straight line. When thecartridge40 is removed from the space C, theroller148cmay contact thesurface48e,thesurface48d,and thesurface48bsuccessively in this order. With respect to the cartridge inserting direction, the distance D1 between the contact portion of theroller148cand the surfaces of theterminals170p-177pmay be greater than the distance D2 between theportion48aand the surfaces of theterminals170c-177c,as depicted inFIG. 5. With this configuration, thecartridge40 may be removed from the space C with a relatively reduced force. The distance D1 may be changed during the installation of thecartridge40, as depicted inFIG. 7. The relationship of D1>D2 may be satisfied until at least the timing t3 at which theroller148ccontacts theportion48a.
• Thecartridge40 may comprise the guide portion, e.g., the wall defining the recessedportion41a1, near theterminals170c-177c.The guide portion may be configured to contact thesubstrate182, such that theterminals170p-177pmay approach theterminals170c-177cwith respect to the vertical direction and the secondary direction, e.g., a direction perpendicular to the cartridge inserting direction, before the timing t3 at which the surface43ccontacts theroller148c,e.g., at the timing t2. In theprinter1, theterminals170p-177pmay be disposed in the space C and configured to move in the direction perpendicular to the cartridge inserting direction. Thecartridge40 may comprise the guide portion. The surfaces of theterminals170c-177cand the downstream end of the guide portion with respect to the cartridge inserting direction may be disposed in this order with respect to the cartridge inserting direction. With respect to the cartridge inserting direction, the distance D1 between the contact portion of theroller148cand the surfaces of theterminals170p-177pmay be less than the distance D3 between theportion48aand the downstream end of the guide portion with respect to the cartridge inserting direction. With this configuration, the reliability of the contact between theterminals170p-177pand thecorresponding terminals170c-177cmay be improved. More specifically, when thecartridge40 is installed in the space C, thecartridge40 may be deviated with respect to the space C by the contact of theroller148cto thesurface48c.Therefore, when theterminals170p-177pare guided by the guide portion after theroller148cis made contact with thesurface48c,theterminals170p-177pmay move while thecartridge40 has been deviated with respect to the space C. Thus, a positional deviation may occur between theterminals170p-177pand thecorresponding terminals170c-177c,such that theterminals170p-177pand thecorresponding terminals170c-177cmay not contact each other properly. Theroller148cmay be configured to contact thesurface48cafter theterminals170p-177pare guided by the guide portion and approach theterminals170c-177cat the timing t2. Accordingly, the above-described configuration may reduce the contact failure.
• A predetermined stroke may be provided between the time at which theterminals170p-177pbegin to be guided by the guide portion and the time at which theterminals170p-177pand thecorresponding terminals170c-177ccontact each other. When thecartridge40 comprising thesurfaces48band48cand theterminals170p-177pare guided by the guide portion after theroller148ccontacts thesurface48c,the length of thesurface48cmay be greater with respect to the cartridge inserting direction to secure the predetermined stroke. However, if the length of thesurface48cis elongated with respect to cartridge inserting direction, thecartridge40 may increase in size and thus thelocking unit148 of thehousing1 may also increase in size correspondingly. Accordingly, the above-described configuration may reduce the size of thecartridge40 and thelocking unit148. The angle θd may be set to be less to secure the predetermined stroke when thesurface48ccomprises thesurfaces48dand48e. However, the urging force of thelocking unit148 in cartridge inserting direction may decrease when theroller148ccontacts thesurface48d.Accordingly, the above-described configuration may reduce or eliminate such a problem.
• As depicted inFIG. 5, in thecartridge40, thesurface48cmay be disposed closer to thefront surface41athan therear surface41bwith respect to the cartridge inserting direction. Thus, when thecartridge40 is attached to the space C, theroller148cmay be allowed to contact thesurface48cand thecartridge40 may move along the cartridge inserting direction at a relatively earlier stage. Therefore, this configuration may accomplish the speedy installation of thecartridge40.
• in thecartridge40, thesurface48cmay be disposed substantially in the middle of theside surface41cand theside surface41d.In theprinter1, theroller148cmay be disposed substantially in the middle of theside wall1acand theside wall1ad. in thecartridge40, thesurface48cmay be disposed substantially in the middle of theupper surface41hand thelower surface41e.In theprinter1, theroller148cmay be disposed substantially in the middle of theupper wall1ah andthelower wall1ac. With this configuration, the force may be applied to thecartridge40 uniformly via, thesurface48cand theroller148cwhich contact thesurface48c. Therefore, the installation of thecartridge40 may be performed with further reliability.
• Thecartridge40 may comprise thehand well portion49 into which the user may insert his/her hand. Thehand well portion49 and thesurface48cmay be separated from each other and disposed on the same line extending substantially parallel to the cartridge inserting direction, as depicted inFIG. 5. Thus, the user may easily install or remove thecartridge40 into or from the space C while putting his/her hand in thehand well portion49. Further, because thehand well portion49 and thesurface48cmay be disposed as described above, thecartridge40 may be properly installed in the space C while thesurface48cis positioned with respect to theroller148c.
• Thecartridge40 may comprise thefront surface41aprovided with theterminals170c-177c,and theink outlet tubes43 disposed at theside surface41c.In theprinter1, thehollow tubes153 may be disposed in the space C. Thehollow tubes153 may extend along the tube inserting direction and be configured to move along the tube inserting direction to be inserted into the respectiveink outlet tubes43. With this configuration, the contact between theterminals170c-177cand thecorresponding terminals170p-177pand the insertion of thehollow tubes153 into the respectiveink outlet tubes43 may be performed independently.
• In theprinter1, theterminals170p-177pmay be urged in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction and configured to move along the cartridge inserting direction against the urging force. Theroller148cmay be configured to move while contacting thesurface48cof thecartridge40 to allow thecartridge40 and theterminals170p-177pto move along the cartridge inserting direction after theterminals170c-177cand thecorresponding terminals170p-177pcontact each other. Thus, the reliability of the contact between theterminals170c-177cand thecorresponding terminals170p-177pmay be improved. Further, when theprinter1 has the configuration in which theterminals170p-177pare urged in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction, the above-described configuration may reduce a load on the user when thecartridge40 is installed in the space C. If theprinter1 does not comprise theroller148c,but theterminals170p-177pare urged in the direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction, increase effort may be required to insert thecartridge40 into the space C against the urging force during the installation of thecartridge40. According to the illustrative embodiment, theroller148cmay allow thecartridge40 to move along the cartridge inserting direction smoothly. Therefore, the user may insert thecartridge40 into the space C with ease.
• In theprinter1, theterminals170p-177pmay be urged in a direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction by the predetermined urging force Fs. The cartridge-inserting-direction force acting on the contact portion of thesurface48ccontacting theroller148cmay be greater than the predetermined urging force Fs. Therefore, the load on the user may be further reduced during the installation of thecartridge40.
• Thecartridge40 may comprise thesurface48cconfigured to contact theroller148cto allow thecartridge40 to move along the tube inserting direction before thehollow tubes153, which is configured to move along the tube inserting direction, are inserted into the respectiveink outlet tubes43. The printer I may comprise theroller148cthat may be disposed in the space C. Theroller148cmay be configured to contact thesurface48cand move with contacting thesurface48cto allow thecartridge40 to move along the tube inserting direction before thehollow tubes153 are inserted into the respectiveink outlet tubes43. With this configuration, the installed position of thecartridge40 may be adjusted with respect to the tube inserting direction before thehollow tubes153 are inserted into thecartridge40.
• In theprinter1, the space C may be defined by theside wall1ad. Thecartridge40 may move in the space C by the movement of theroller148cand may contact theside wall1ad. With this configuration, thecartridge40 may be positioned in the predetermined position in the space C by using theside wall1ad.
• In thecartridge40, while thecartridge40 moves along the tube inserting direction, thesurface48cmay contact theroller148cto allow thecartridge40 to move along the cartridge inserting direction. In theprinter1, while thecartridge40 moves along the tube inserting direction, theroller148cmay contact thesurface48cof thecartridge40 and slide on thesurface48cto allow thecartridge40 to move along the cartridge inserting direction. With this configuration, the installed position of thecartridge40 may be adjusted with respect to both the tube inserting direction and the cartridge inserting direction before thehollow tubes153 are inserted into thecartridge40.
• in theprinter1, the space C may be defined by thefront wall1aa. Thecartridge40 may be moved in the space C by the movement of theroller148cand may contact thefront wall1aa, With this configuration, thecartridge40 may be positioned in the predetermined position in the space C by using thefront wall1aa.
• Thecartridge40 may comprise thesurface48bconfigured to contact theroller148cand increase the elastic force of thespring148dbefore thesurface48ccontacts theroller148c. Theprinter1 may comprise thespring148dconfigured to urge theroller148c.Theroller148cmay be configured to move white contacting thesurface48bof thecartridge40 and increasing the elastic force of thespring148dbefore theroller148ccontacts thesurface48c.With this configuration, when thecartridge40 is moved by the elastic force of thespring148d,the elastic force of thespring148dmay be smoothly applied to thesurface48cand thecartridge40 may move along the cartridge inserting direction with further reliability. Therefore, the installed position of thecartridge40 may properly be adjusted with respect to the tube inserting direction before thehollow tubes153 are inserted into the cartridge.
• In thecartridge40, thesurface48cmay be disposed substantially in the middle of theside surface41cand theside surface41d.In theprinter1, theroller148cmay be disposed substantially in the middle of theside wall1acand theside wall1ad. In thecartridge40, thesurface48cmay be disposed substantially in the middle of theupper surface41hand thelower surface41e.In theprinter1, theroller148cmay be disposed substantially in the middle of theupper wall1ahand thelower wall1ae. With this configuration, the force may be applied to thecartridge40 uniformly via thesurface48cand theroller148ccontacting thesurface48c. Therefore, the installed position of thecartridge40 may be properly adjusted with respect to the tube inserting direction before thehollow tubes153 are inserted into thecartridge40.
• Thecartridge40 may comprise twoink outlet tubes43. When thecartridge40 comprises two or moreink outlet tubes43, a force greater than a force, which acts on thecartridge40 when acartridge40 has a singleink outlet tube43, may act on thecartridge40 when thehollow tubes153 are inserted into the respectiveink outlet tubes43. Therefore, a risk of a positional deviation of thecartridge40 in the space C may increase. Although a greater force acts on thecartridge40 at the time of insertion of thehollow tubes153, the installed position of thecartridge40 may be properly adjusted with respect to the tube inserting direction.
• Thecartridge40 may comprise theterminals170c-177con thefront surface41aand near theside surface41c.Therefore, theterminals170c-177cof thecartridge40 may contact the correspondingterminals170p-177pof theprinter1 at the substantially same time of the placement of thecartridge40 in the space C.
• Theprinter1 may comprise theterminals170p-1177pconfigured to move in the tube inserting direction and in a direction opposite from the tube inserting direction. Therefore, this configuration may absorb the positional deviation with respect to the tube inserting direction to ensure the contact between theterminals170c-177cand theterminals170p-177p.
• While the one or more aspects of the invention has been disclosed with respect to the specific embodiment thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, arrangements and modifications may be applied therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
• Contents to be stored in the cartridge are not limited to black ink or pretreatment liquid. For example, the contents may be ink other than black, e.g., magenta, cyan, or yellow, aftertreatment liquid to be discharged onto a recording medium for improving image qualities, cleaning liquid for cleaning the transport belt, or waste liquid discharged from recording portions, e.g., heads, during a preliminary ejection, e.g., ejections not related to recording. The contents to be stored in the cartridge may be toner.
• The cartridge may store two different kinds of contents, e.g., the black ink and the pretreatment liquid, individually. In another embodiment, the cartridge may store one or three or more kinds of contents.
• The cartridge may comprise one or more reservoirs for storing the one or more contents, e.g., thereservoirs42, and a container for accommodating the one or more reservoirs, e.g., thehousing41. In another embodiment, the container may not comprise a reservoir, but may directly store the one or more kinds of contents therein.
• A first portion and a second portion of the cartridge may have any shape and be disposed at any respective positions. For example, the first portion may be disposed closer to one of a first side-surface and a second side-surface than the other of the first side-surface and the second side-surface but not substantially in the middle of the first side-surface and the second side-surface. The first portion may be disposed closer to one of an upper surface and a lower surface than the other of the upper surface and the lower surface but not substantially in the middle of the upper surface and the lower surface. Although the first portion may comprise two surfaces, in another embodiment, for example, one of the surfaces may be omitted, e.g., thesurface48dmay be omitted from the first portion and the first portion may comprise thesurface48eonly wherein thesurface48bmay be contiguous to thesurface48eto have a substantially V-shape. The first portion may comprise a surface extending along the cartridge inserting direction. One or more surfaces may be disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The second portion may be omitted from the cartridge.
• The number of communication portions to be provided, the position and the structure of the one or more communication portions may not be limited to the specific embodiment. For example, the communication portion are not limited to being disposed outside the housing of the cartridge but may be disposed inside the housing of the cartridge. The communication portion are not limited to a tube that may be attached to a bag, e.g., thereservoir42. The communication portion may comprise a hole to be formed when a hollow tube is inserted into the bag or a film disposed at an opening of the reservoir for storing the content. Two or more communication portions may be provided for one reservoir.
• In a recording apparatus, a cartridge receiving portion may be disposed at any position. In another embodiment, for example, the cartridge receiving portion may be disposed at an upper portion of the recording apparatus.
• The number of electrical interfaces to be provided, the shape and the positional arrangement of the electrical interface are not limited to the specific embodiment. The electrical interface may not be limited to comprising a memory of the cartridge and a terminal for communicating with a sensor of the cartridge, e.g., a communication terminal, but may comprise a power input terminal only without the communication terminal. The electrical interface are not limited to being held by a spring but may be held by an elastic body, e.g., sponge or rubber. The electrical interface are not limited to being configured to be movable in a predetermined direction or in its opposite direction. For example, the electrical interface may be fixed in the cartridge receiving portion. The electrical interface are not limited to be configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the cartridge inserting direction in the cartridge receiving portion. For example, the electrical interface may be fixed to the cartridge receiving portion. The electrical interface may be disposed on one of side walls defining the cartridge receiving portion but not disposed on a front wall defining the cartridge receiving portion. The electrical interface may be omitted from the cartridge receiving portion.
• In another embodiment, for example, a movable member may be configured to move while contacting the first portion of the cartridge to allow the cartridge to move in the predetermined direction and in is opposite direction only. The movable member may be configured to move while contacting the first portion of the cartridge to allow the cartridge to move in the cartridge inserting direction only. The movable member may have any shape and be disposed at any position in the cartridge receiving portion. For example, the movable member may be disposed closer to one of a first side-wall and a second side-wall than the other of the first side-wall and the second side-wall but not substantially in the middle of the first side-wail and the second side-wall. The movable member may be disposed closer to one of an upper wall and a lower wall than the other of the upper wall and the lower wall but not substantially in the middle of the upper wall and the lower wall.
• The structure of a connection between the movable member and an elastomeric member are not limited to the specific embodiment. For example, thespring148dmay be attached to the left side-surface of thelever148ainFIG. 7, and thespring148dmay contract when theroller148ccontacts thesurface48band extend when theroller148ccontact thesurface48c.The movable member is not limited to being urged by the elastomeric member. For example, the recording apparatus may comprise a mechanism configured to move the movable member in the predetermined direction and in its opposite direction. Thus, the mechanism may move the movable member in one of the predetermined direction and its opposite direction while contacting the movable member with the first portion of the cartridge. The movable member is not limited to being urged by the elastomeric member. For example, the recording apparatus may comprise a mechanism configured to move the movable member in the cartridge inserting direction. In this case, the mechanism may move the movable member in the cartridge inserting direction while contacting the movable member with the first portion of the cartridge.
• The electrical interface may be urged in a direction opposite to the cartridge inserting direction by a predetermined force, and a cartridge-inserting-direction force acting on a contact portion of the first portion that contacts the movable member may be greater than a predetermined urging force.
• One or more walls with which the cartridge contact may comprise a portion with which the cartridge moved by the movable member may contact, e.g., a flat wall, a protrusion protruding from the flat wall, or a raised portion of a wall. For example, the projectingpart1adpmay be omitted from theside wall1adand theside surface41dof thecartridge40 may contact theflat side wall1addefining the space C. Theprotrusions1aapmay be omitted from thefront wall1aaand thefront surface41aof thecartridge40 may contact the flatfront wall1aa.
• When the cartridge is relatively heavy or when a force that acts on the cartridge is relatively small during the insertion of the hollow tube, the cartridge may not be moved by the insertion of the hollow tube although the cartridge des not contact the one or more walls defining the cartridge receiving portion. Therefore, the cartridge may not contact the one or more walls defining the cartridge receiving portion by the movement of the movable member.
• An arbitrary number of hollow tubes may be provided and the position of one or more hollow tubes may be also arbitrarily changed.
• The number of recording portions (e.g., heads) to be provided in the recording apparatus is not limited to two. The recording apparatus may be a color inkjet printer comprising recording portions for discharging inks of black, magenta, cyan, and yellow.
• The recording apparatus may be a line-type recording apparatus or a serial-type recording apparatus. In another embodiments, the recording apparatus may be applied to not only printers but also facsimile machines or copying machines, or any other suitable machine for ejecting ink, for example. The recording apparatus may be a laser recording apparatus.
• The cartridge inserting direction may extend parallel to the primary direction. In another embodiment, the cartridge inserting direction may extend parallel to one of the vertical direction and the secondary direction. The direction that the hollow tube may be moved, e.g., the predetermined direction, may intersect the cartridge inserting direction, but is not limited to extending perpendicular to the cartridge inserting direction.
• While the invention has been described in connection with embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the embodiments described above may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and the described examples are considered merely as exemplary of the invention, with the true scope of the invention being defined by the following claims.

Claims (30)

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge comprising:

a substrate comprising a first surface on which an electrical terminal is disposed, the first surface facing a first direction; and

an engagement portion comprising:

a second surface disposed upstream from the substrate in the first direction, wherein the second surface faces a second direction, which forms an obtuse angle with the first direction; and

a third surface facing a third direction, which forms an acute angle with the first direction, wherein the third surface does not overlap with the substrate in the first direction,

wherein the third surface is disposed downstream from the second surface in the first direction.

2. The cartridge ofclaim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises an outlet portion configured to direct liquid from an interior of the cartridge to an exterior of the cartridge in a fourth direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, but not parallel to the second surface or the third surface.

3. The cartridge ofclaim 2, wherein the outlet portion is disposed upstream from the substrate in the first direction.

4. The cartridge ofclaim 2, wherein the outlet portion is disposed upstream from the third surface in the first direction.

5. The cartridge ofclaim 2, wherein the outlet portion is disposed upstream from the second surface in the first direction.

6. The cartridge ofclaim 2, wherein the outlet portion is disposed downstream from the substrate in the fourth direction.

7. The cartridge ofclaim 6, wherein the third surface is disposed upstream from the substrate in the fourth direction.

8. The cartridge ofclaim 2, wherein the electrical terminal comprises a row of electrical terminals extending in the fourth direction.

9. The cartridge ofclaim 2, wherein each of the second direction and the third direction forms an acute angle with the fourth direction.

10. The cartridge ofclaim 1, further comprising two side surfaces parallel to each other and extending in the first direction,

wherein the two side surfaces overlap with each other in a fourth direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, but not parallel to the second surface or the third surface, and

wherein the engagement portion is disposed between the two side surfaces with respect to the fourth direction.

11. The cartridge ofclaim 10, wherein distances from each of the side surfaces to the engagement portion is greater than one third of a distance between the side surfaces in the fourth direction.

12. The cartridge ofclaim 1, further comprising a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the front surface faces the first direction and the rear surface faces a direction opposite of the first direction,

wherein the rear surface and the front surface overlap each other in the first direction, and

wherein the second surface is disposed closer to the front surface than to the rear surface with respect to the first direction.

13. The cartridge ofclaim 1, further comprising a front surface and a rear surface wherein the front surface faces the first direction and the rear surface faces a direction opposite of the first direction,

wherein the rear surface and the front surface overlap each other in the first direction, and

wherein the substrate is disposed between the front surface and the rear surface with respect to the first direction.

14. The cartridge ofclaim 1, further comprising a fourth surface and a fifth surface parallel to each other and extending parallel to the first direction and perpendicular to the second and third surfaces,

wherein the engagement portion is disposed between the fourth surface and the fifth surface with respect to a fifth direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the second surface and the third surface.

15. The cartridge ofclaim 14, wherein distances from each of the fourth surface and the fifth surface to the engagement portion is greater than one third of a distance between the fourth surface and the fifth surface in the fifth direction.

16. The cartridge ofclaim 1, further comprising a fourth surface and a fifth surface parallel to each other and extending parallel to the first direction and perpendicular to the second and third surfaces,

wherein the substrate is disposed between the engagement portion and the fifth surface with respect to a fifth direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the second surface and the third surface.

17. The cartridge of claim I, wherein an upstream end of the third surface is disposed upstream from the substrate in the first direction.

18. The cartridge ofclaim 1, wherein a downstream end of the third surface is disposed downstream from the substrate in the first direction.

19. The cartridge ofclaim 1,

wherein the engagement portion further comprises a fourth surface,

wherein a downstream end of the fourth surface in the first direction is contiguous to an upstream end of the third surface in the first direction,

wherein an downstream end of the second surface in the first direction is contiguous to an upstream end of the fourth surface, and

wherein the fourth surface faces a sixth direction, which forms an obtuse angle with the first direction.

20. The cartridge of claim119, wherein the obtuse angle formed between the sixth direction and the first direction is less than the obtuse angle formed between the second direction and the first direction.

21. The cartridge ofclaim 1, further comprising a holding portion,

wherein the engagement portion is disposed downstream from the holding portion in the first direction, and

wherein the engagement portion and the holding portion overlap each other in the first direction.

22. The cartridge ofclaim 1, wherein the second surface and the third surface form a curved surface.

23. The cartridge ofclaim 1, wherein each of the second surface and the third surface comprises a plane surface.

24. The cartridge ofclaim 1,

wherein the second direction forms an acute angle with a direction opposite of the first direction; and

wherein the acute angle formed between the second direction and the direction opposite of the first direction is less than the acute angle formed between the third direction and the first direction.

25. A cartridge comprising:

a substrate comprising a first surface on which an electrical terminal is disposed, the first surface facing a first direction;

a second surface disposed upstream from the substrate in the first direction, wherein the second surface faces a second direction, which forms an obtuse angle with the first direction; and

a third surface facing a third direction, which forms an acute angle with the first direction,

wherein the third surface is disposed downstream from the second surface in the first direction, and

wherein the third surface does not overlap any portion of the cartridge in the first direction downstream from the third surface.

26. A recording apparatus comprising:

a cartridge comprising:

a substrate comprising a first surface on which an electrical terminal is disposed, the first surface facing a first direction; and

an engagement portion comprising:

a second surface facing a second direction, which forms an acute angle with a direction opposite of the first direction; and

a third surface disposed downstream from the second surface in the first direction, the third surface facing a third direction, which forms an acute angle with the first direction, wherein a downstream end of the electrical terminal in the first direction is disposed downstream from a downstream end of the second surface in the first direction,

a receiving portion configured to receive the cartridge;

an electrical interface disposed at the receiving portion and configured to contact the electrical terminal when the receiving portion receives the cartridge; and

a locking unit disposed at the receiving portion and configured to urge the cartridge in a direction opposite of the second direction by engaging a contact portion of the locking unit with the second surface when the receiving portion receives the cartridge, wherein an upstream end of the electrical interface in the first direction is disposed downstream from the contact portion of the locking unit in the first direction,

wherein a distance between the upstream end of the electrical interface and the contact portion of the locking unit in the first direction is greater than a distance between a downstream end of the electrical terminal and a downstream end of the second surface in the first direction.

27. The recording apparatus ofclaim 26, wherein, when the recording apparatus completes receiving the cartridge, the contact portion of the locking unit contacts the second surface of the cartridge to urge the cartridge in a direction opposite of the second direction.

29. The recording apparatus ofclaim 26, wherein the locking unit is configured to urge the cartridge in a direction opposite of the third direction when the contact portion of the locking unit engages the third surface.

30. The recording apparatus ofclaim 26, wherein the locking unit further comprises an arm configured to pivot about a shaft and a spring disposed at the arm between the shaft and the contacting portion.

31. The recording apparatus ofclaim 26, wherein, when the recording apparatus completes receiving the cartridge, the cartridge is urged in the direction opposite of the second direction, such that the cartridge contacts and presses on the receiving portion of the recording apparatus in the first direction and in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

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